Things I Wish I Knew Heading into My Job

As I near the end of my term with MicroMetrics through the RBC CO-OP Program, I reflect on how much I enjoyed the experience and how it was exactly what I was looking for when I first applied to the program. The lessons that I’ve been taught are going to carry on with me for years to come and definitely allow to me to succeed (given that I apply them properly).

A lot of these lessons were learned from challenging scenarios I had never encountered at other workplaces. Although I was able to overcome them, there was always a mental barrier that made it a lot more difficult. The barrier was built on things that I wish I knew before heading into MicroMetrics.

People Are There to Help You:

It’s easy to think as the new kid on the block you have little help. It’s also hard to ask for help when you’re unfamiliar with people and you want to put on the impression that you can figure things out yourself. This mentality makes your life a lot more difficult that it needs to be and will probably get you in trouble more times than you think.

Instead of the independent mentality, know that people are there to help you. People want to see you learn and succeed in your role. Your fellow co-workers would rather help you than see you mess up at your job. I know it’s easy to think that you’re bothering your fellow co-workers but know that everyone is there to help you until you are able to do the work yourself. Don’t worry about the small first impressions. Worry about the learning how to do everything through other people so you can make a long lasting impression later.

Not Everyone Knows What They’re Doing:

Another thought that I have a lot is that I should always be on top of my game and always know what the next best step is. If I don’t, I’m wasting company time and moving in the wrong direction. The feeling of being lost and not knowing what to do is scary for me and I never want to be there. Due to this feeling, I find I am making my job harder being concerned about managers seeing that I don’t know what I’m doing or that I’m just sitting around.

The fact of the matter is…it’s a start up. Not everyone knows what they’re doing. There are going to be times where people have no idea what direction to move towards. Or what the next day is going to look like for work. The C level employees feel the same concerns you do and that should be comforting to know that even the big bosses get lost.

In this world, everything is step by step. A lot of days are going to be spontaneous and figuring out what to do in that very moment. You should take that fact in and realize it’s okay to be a lost and that everyone around you is trying to figure it out as well. Embrace being lost and work together going forward.

Know When to Say No:

It seems that a lot of these lessons have to do with the impressions that your fellow coworkers will have of you. The perception of managers and other staff is very important and can really make a difference in how the perceive you as well as how you fit into the team. The next lesson is no different.

I, for one, always want to be saying yes to all the tasks I get. I want to impress every person that gives me a job so they know I’m capable and eager to do new tasks. Although I think I’ve done some good for myself, I’ve also done a lot of bad. The overloading of tasks at times has made it difficult to focus on the more important jobs and make sure they’re done to the best quality.

What I should’ve been doing is knowing when I should say no. It’s not okay to say no every single time but if you know that you have a lot already on your plate, your coworkers will respect the tasks you already have. They won’t think you’re a bad employee or that your lazy, they will just understand that times get busy. If I had come into the job with this mentality, It would’ve made certain days a lot easier and help me complete my tasks at a higher quality.

…

These “things” I wish I knew were told to me when I got there on the first day of work. I was constantly reminded about these little tips, but it was difficult to remember due to the sheer fact that I felt I had something to prove. That I needed to be the best possible employee for the company. In reality, the team knew I didn’t need to be nor did they expect me to be. They just wanted me to learn enough so that I could be able to succeed on my own eventually. Key word eventually. Everything in this world is going to take time and it’s a proccess that happens in due time. Trust in yourself and the coworkers around you and it’ll go a long way!